{"id":"finder-location.can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"opening-files","title":"Opening and using moved files"},"question":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?","alt_questions":["Can I still edit documents that were moved to the external drive?","Do changes to a relocated file save to the drive?","edit file after storage studio moved it","Is a moved file read-only?","Where are my edits saved for a relocated file?"],"short_answer":"Yes. Open files from their usual place and save as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, so edits are saved there. The drive needs to be connected while you work.","answer_markdown":"Yes. Open the file from its usual place and work as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, and your changes are saved there. Nothing is read-only.\n\nA few things to know:\n\n- The drive must be connected while you work.\n- Files open at the speed of your external drive. A fast SSD feels much like your built-in drive; a slow disk will feel slower.\n- Brand-new files you save into the folder may land on your Mac rather than the drive, depending on how it was moved — see [where new files go](/faq/finder-location/where-do-new-files-go-in-a-relocated-folder).","answer_html":"

Yes. Open the file from its usual place and work as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, and your changes are saved there. Nothing is read-only.

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A few things to know:

\n","answer_text":"Yes. Open the file from its usual place and work as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, and your changes are saved there. Nothing is read-only.\n\nA few things to know:\n\n- The drive must be connected while you work.\n- Files open at the speed of your external drive. A fast SSD feels much like your built-in drive; a slow disk will feel slower.\n- Brand-new files you save into the folder may land on your Mac rather than the drive, depending on how it was moved — see where new files go.","tags":["editing","shortcut","files"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.where-do-new-files-go-in-a-relocated-folder","question":"If I save a new file into a folder that was moved, where does it go?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-do-new-files-go-in-a-relocated-folder"},{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What do moved files look like in Finder when my external drive is unplugged?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"},{"id":"finder-location.do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts","question":"Do Terminal, scripts and developer tools work with folders Storage Studio has moved?","url":"/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes. Open files from their usual place and save as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, so edits are saved there. The drive needs to be connected while you work.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?","path":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?","alternateName":["Can I still edit documents that were moved to the external drive?","Do changes to a relocated file save to the drive?","edit file after storage studio moved it","Is a moved file read-only?","Where are my edits saved for a relocated file?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Open the file from its usual place and work as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, and your changes are saved there. Nothing is read-only.\n\nA few things to know:\n\n- The drive must be connected while you work.\n- Files open at the speed of your external drive. A fast SSD feels much like your built-in drive; a slow disk will feel slower.\n- Brand-new files you save into the folder may land on your Mac rather than the drive, depending on how it was moved — see where new files go.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · Opening and using moved files

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Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?

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Short answer: Yes. Open files from their usual place and save as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, so edits are saved there. The drive needs to be connected while you work.

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Yes. Open the file from its usual place and work as normal — the shortcut sends your app to the real file on the external drive, and your changes are saved there. Nothing is read-only.

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A few things to know:

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  • The drive must be connected while you work.
  • Files open at the speed of your external drive. A fast SSD feels much like your built-in drive; a slow disk will feel slower.
  • Brand-new files you save into the folder may land on your Mac rather than the drive, depending on how it was moved — see where new files go.
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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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